Space Loteria (Star Wars Mexican Bingo) By Chepo Pena Is Now Ready for Purchase!

Back in May I introduced you to Chepo Peña's fabulous Space Loteria, an originally illustrated sci-fi take on the traditional Mexican Bingo game that uses Star Wars characters and references in place of the traditional icons, like the example below.



Well, just in time for the holidays, Chepo has finally finished the deck and turned it into a full fledged bingo game you can purchase. The complete Space Loteria game is entirely hand made and includes all 54 cards, 10 playing boards, and more.

The 54 cards:






You can also purchase each one of the 54 cards shown above as an individual 8.5" x 11" print (or a complete set) here

Chepo Peña's Space Loteria Bingo Game Set $45



* 10 TABLAS (GAME BOARDS)
* 54 CARDS
* BAG OF DRIED PINTO BEANS
* RULE SHEET
* SHEET WITH ORIGINAL CARD IMAGES
* COMES IN A WOODEN BOX
* SIGNED
* SHIPPING is $5

Buy it here

From Roughs To Rad. Josh Cooley & Bill Presing's 54 Intercontinental Cuties.

Both Josh Cooley and Bill Presing are super talented storyboard artists at Pixar Animation Studios who have recently joined forces on this creative project. Most recently, Josh received lots of blog and press attention for his Movies R Fun/ Inappropriate Golden Book and Emeryville-based Bill Presing is especially known for his pin-up girl-like illustrations.

MADDECK Playing Cards By Ozlem Olcer. They're Magically Cubistic.

The MADDECK is a series of playing cards which feature stunning illustrations by Ozlem Olcer. The deck was created for PAG, an Istanbul based design company developing projects and manufacturing products in collaboration with graphic artists and illustrators.

The name Maddeck - short for ‘Magicians, Astronauts & Dancers’ - is given after the first 3 dream jobs of the designer as a child.



The deck is a reflection of unusual and edgy designs with an innocent feeling, much like the designer herself. This combination shows itself both on the one by one hand drawn shapes of spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds and also on the expressions of the characters in J, Q and K. The Joker of the deck is King Puhu, the famous and beloved drawing of Özlem Ölçer.



The four suits; Clubs, Spades, Hearts and Diamonds are deftly drawn, ornate but legible. here are a few random examples:







The Face cards are beautiful cubistic styled renderings of Jacks, Queens and Kings:








About PAG playing cards:

The idea of the project is creating a brand of collectible playing cards with an alternative interpretation to the traditional decks. This is an ongoing project, where a new deck will be designed every six months by various graphic artists and illustrators.

Although design and aesthetics is the main starting point of the project, the functionality and quality of the decks are also considered as important as visual expectations, making playing cards not only collectible but also usable and comfortable to play.

They are sold in a box of two decks with different backside colors.
In every deck there are 55 cards, one giving information about the artist and the deck.

The cards and the inner boxes are printed on 330 g black core paper imported from Germany, an ISEGA certificated, very durable and flexible material, which cannot be seen through and is indispensable by considering the quality of playing cards. It is also the optimum material with its particular characteristics such as very high opacity and good flatness.



Sold 2 decks to a pack.
buy them here.

Star Wars + Mexican Loteria Cards = Space Loteria

Artist (and musician) Chepo Peña of Austin, TX has combined two of my favorite things in a way that is nothing short of genius. Loteria (the traditional Mexican Bingo game with the illustrated cards) and the classic George Lucas Star Wars movie. And voila! You've got Space Loteria. Besides being humorous, they are truly clever, with some great visual puns (e.g. Yoda as shrimp, Darth as melonhead).

Below are some of my favorites, next to the original Mexican Loteria cards that inspired Chepo's creations.













Chepo did receive a cease and desist order from Lucas Films for selling his art on his site, so unfortunately you can't buy these :( But you can see all of them at his site here.)

He is also an accomplished bassist:

above photo of Chepa Peña in 2007, courtesy of Erin's public gallery on Picasa

and a funny guy (obviously):

above: Chepo when he played bass for David Garza at Austin City Limits fest. (image courtesy of the artist)

The cards are also featured (a whole page) in the Abrahams book Star Wars: 1,000 Collectibles Memorabilia and Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Stephen J. Sansweet and Anne Neumann.